Randy Clark, Sales Manager, Four Seasons Lanai is among twelve Hawaii executives who have earned the meetings industry’s highest designation – Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) – enhancing their credentials to secure new business opportunities for their organizations and the State of Hawaii.

“This Certification is incredibly important to me and shows the commitment that I have made to succeed in the meetings industry in Hawaii and is one more step to help the Islands be recognized as a premier meetings destination in the world,” said Randy Clark, sales manager for Four Seasons Resorts Lana`i. “The certification would not have been possible without the support of the management at Four Seasons Resorts Lana`i and would like to thank them for their continued support.”

The CMP exam is conducted only a few times each year in different cities nationwide, and so this marks a coup for the state’s meetings industry, with the CMP exam being held for the first time in Hawaii. The Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB), with support from the Aloha Chapter of Meeting Professionals International, secured the hosting of the CMP exam on June 8 at the Hawaii Convention Center.

“On behalf of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, I would like to congratulate the twelve individuals who obtained their CMP credentials,” said Mike McCartney, president and CEO of Hawaii Tourism Authority, in a written statement today.

“CMPs are important in supporting our visitor industry and the meetings, conventions and incentives market, which has been gaining significant momentum. Their achievement comes at an opportune time as we prepare for the APEC Leaders’ Meeting this November where we can showcase our islands as an ideal global meetings destination.”

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According to the Convention Industry Council (CIC), comprised of 31 meetings industry organizations, CMP is the industry’s foremost certification. It is the only meetings industry certification endorsed by all 31 CIC member organizations and is recognized globally.

Michael Murray, CMP, CMM, CASE, HVCB vice president of sales and marketing, said, “ I can speak from personal experience that adding the CMP designation is a stamp of approval that meeting planners value when considering Hawaii for their business.”

Taking the CMP exam has stringent requirements. Applicants must have a minimum three years work experience in the meetings industry, have participated in an approved internship or apprenticeship for a minimum 200 hours, and accrued 25 hours of industry continuing education credits within the past five years. The 3.5-hour CMP exam consists of 165 multiple-choice questions covering five areas of the meetings process: strategic event planning, financial and contract management, facilities and services, logistics, and programming.

The twelve meeting planners who earned their certification this year are: